Reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections: standardising practice

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Medical Device Innovation

Background:

• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) represent a significant healthcare challenge.
• Variations in catheterization practices can lead to increased infection rates and healthcare costs.
• Standardization of medical procedures is a key strategy for improving patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of introducing a standardized catheterization tray and training program on CAUTI rates.
• To assess the economic benefits associated with reduced CAUTI rates.
• To determine the effect of the standardized tray on nursing practice and equipment management.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an all-in-one catheterization tray (Bard® Tray) across two acute hospital sites.
• Introduction of a comprehensive training program for nursing staff on standardized catheterization.
• Retrospective analysis of CAUTI rates and associated expenditure before and after standardization (2014-2016).

Main Results:

• An 80% reduction in CAUTI rates was observed between 2014 and 2016.
• Annual expenditure savings of nearly £160,000 were achieved in 2016 compared to 2014.
• Improved nursing practice noted, with reduced instances of forgotten equipment due to the all-in-one tray.

Conclusions:

• Standardized catheterization trays, combined with training, are effective in significantly reducing CAUTI rates.
• This standardization initiative yielded substantial cost savings for the healthcare Trust.
• The intervention enhanced nursing workflow and adherence to best practices in catheterization.